WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - William & Mary field hockey dropped a barn burner on Sunday afternoon to visiting Davidson, 5-4, at Busch Field.
 
The Tribe (1-9) rallied from a 3-1 halftime deficit to pull even at three, and then again at four when Davidson took the lead in the waning moments of the third quarter. The Wildcats' Sib Naaktgeboren completed her hat trick, scoring the game-winner just over four minutes into the four quarter to give Davidson the 5-4 win.
 
Senior Emme Schwartz scored the first two goals of her Tribe career both off penalty corners in the third quarter. Junior Sophie Ermellini also tallied her first career goal in the first half, while junior Josie Mae Gruendel recorded her team-leading fourth goal of the season in the setback. 
 
Davidson (7-4) took the lead just under five minutes into the contest on a goal from Lourdes Wolf, before Naaktgeboren doubled the margin with her first tally off a penalty corner in the 23rd minute.
 
Senior Natasha Browning and Ermellini combined in transition to pull the Tribe within a goal at 2-1 just over two minutes later. On the play, Browning intercepted a pass near midfield and raced toward the attacking circle. She laid it off to Ermelini who pushed the ball across into the leftside boards. It was Browning's first career assist. 
 
The Davidson's cushion was two at the half as Naaktgeboren scored her second goal of the contest off a pass from Celie Constantine. A long pass found Naaktgeboren just inside the right side of the circle. Her shot caught a deflection and went in. It was initially waved off and deemed a dangerous play, but after review, the goal stood and the Wildcats led 3-1 at the break.
 
W&M wasted little time coming out of the locker room, drawing back within one just 32 seconds into the third period. Gruendel carried the ball down the right sideline and along the endline. Her centering pass caught a deflection and rolled across to close the gap to 3-2.
 
Just over eight minutes later, the Tribe cashed in a penalty corner to pull even at three. Senior Amelia Morgan's initial shot from the top of the circle was blocked by Davidson goalkeeper Avery Foster. The rebound ended up with Schwartz on the left side of the area, and the Virginia Beach, Va., native ripped a shot into the boards.
 
The Wildcats answered just 2:28 later to retake the lead. Ava Mickel's centering pass found the stick of Eva Van der kooi, and the sophomore scored fourth goal of the season to push the visitor back in front, 4-3.
 
The Green and Gold provided a quick response of their own just 1:45 later off a penalty corner. Gruendel and classmate Ellen Ford provided the set up, and Schwartz took care of the rest rifling a shot into the left side boards to knot the game at four. It was Gruendel's first assist of the season and the first in Ford's career. 
 
The match was even at four into the final period, but Naaktgeboren provided the final tally, weaving through the Tribe along the left endline. She found the nearside boards for her 14th goal of the season, which ranks among the top five nationally, just 4:21into the final frame. 
 
The Tribe nearly found the equalizer with just 4:30 remaining. Ford drew a foul just inside the 25-yard line. She sent pass toward the crease, and Ermelini got a stick to it. Her chance though was blocked away by Eleanor Larsen to preserve the Wildcat win. 
 
Davidson outshot the Tribe, 22-8, but W&M put seven of its eight chances on frame. The Tribe generated four penalty corners compared to eight for the Wildcats. Junior goalkeeper Alexandra de Jesus finished with nine saves in goal.
 
The Tribe returns to CAA play next week when it hits the road to face Towson on Friday, Oct. 10. The match carries a 3 p.m. start time and will be broadcast on FloCollege.